Saturday, August 23, 2014

Blue and White Crush

Blue and white, I've got a crush on you! Always have, always will. This popular color combination is one of my favorites. I love its familiar yet surprisingly fresh vibe. On Swedish gray surfaces, blue and white looks effortless and lovely. It's cool, calming and crisp against the Gustavian palette. On period brown furniture, I can always count on blue-and-white accents to jazz up these classics. Whether used unabashedly or sprinkled here and there, this color scheme is timeless, versatile and beautiful.

Check out how I incorporate blue and white at our shop.

To cozy up our store, which has three sides of expansive glass walls, I had a small, homey kitchen installed. I designed it to be simple, functional and blue! Simple to complement our inventory of country and formal antiques. Functional for a variety of daily tasks: arranging flowers, washing china, etc. And blue because it looks terrific with pretty much everything, especially our collection of white ironstone.

- Cabinetry from Tedd Wood

- Farm sink from Kohler

- Fridge (actually a small wine cooler from the cellar of our former home) from U-line

- Marble is Carrara

Currently over the kitchen area is a French Louis Philippe mirror in silver gilt and a large Swedish plate rack with a collection of antique ironstone round platters. The four-tier rack with lower shelf holds both platters and plates.

Along with white, our business cards have similar shades of blue - Pantone #646 and #644.

And the marble-top beadboard sales desk is also blue.

Now you know where I sit when I'm at the shop. Will that be cash or credit? :)

No post about blue and white would be complete without a look at china. This color scheme has been used for centuries on Chinese porcelain, Dutch delftware, English ceramics, etc. Staffordshire, England produced some of the best known blue-and-white transferware in the world. I collect and sell both the pale blue Romantic (above) and dark blue Historical pieces (below).

One pattern I cannot resist is "Girl Musician" produced by John and Richard Riley (1796-1828) in Burslem, England. I adore the bucolic scenery complete with country house, meandering river, grazing animals, kneeling shepherd, girl playing the flute, and a border of wild roses - pure bliss!

Resting on this French Louis XVI (Ca. 1790s) walnut side table is a graduated set of 3 platters from Wedgwood. The French classical style armchair is upholstered in a velvety blue cotton.

BELOW: These items have all sold, but I am sharing this photo to show how a dash of blue and white can liven up a dark wood surface.

A pair of French bergeres (Ca. 1890-1900s) in a greige paint with all new blue-gray Belgian linen upholstery. This Louis XVI model with the rectangular backrest happens to be my favorite type of bergeres. When I come across these, I will splurge on the down-filled seat cushions. I love how they "pop" next to French occasional table's mahogany surface - that's the beauty of mixing finishes! Pillow fabric is from Carlton V.

ABOVE: A blue painted Swedish desk against Gustavian oak doors at a friend's manor home in Sweden. BELOW: The same manor house with a Gustavian chair in a printed linen. Both the desk and chair I purchased and sold a while ago.

Playing it cool! Two collages showing accents of blue and white on gray surfaces. These pieces have all sold - apologies!

Last but not least, blue and white looks dazzling with Mocha, our sassy 14-year old Tibetan Terrier in need of a good brushing!

This post is just beyond beautiful....so tastefully executed, love it! Blue and white as you know I am passionate about and this is proof positive of how it just always works and is a timeless classic. You have certainly mastered it Loi!

Beautiful, Loi! Blue and white is classic, and stands out so nicely against all the neutral tones in your gorgeous shop. If I ever make it up to D.C., I'll definitely be stopping in to say hello. Mocha is so cute! Give her a kiss for me.Claudia

Beautiful post, Loi! I love seeing what you have going on in the store at the moment - as well as the sold items - it is all gorgeous. (I have been inspired by the blue seat of that stunning chair - some fall pillows to mix into the living room.) Hope it is a nice weekend in DC! xo, Phyllis

I want all of it. Painting cabinetry in my lower level a pale blue this weekend. I have terra cotta tile down there and I think the combination will be so pretty. I started collecting blue and white when I was ten years old! Don't think I've ever had anything as exquisite as yours though. Your store looks just beautiful!

Thank you for another beautiful post! I totally agree, blue and white with the warmth of antique pieces just adds something special to a room. The original corner cupboard in our 230yr old cape has a collection of blue and white pieces. They are being packed away until our renovations are complete. It will be exciting to unpack them in a renewed space ready for the next 100 years. Patty/NS

Oh, Loi, how lovely to visit you on a Saturday morning. Both my daughter & I have lovely collections of antique blue & white and white ironstone.She began hers as part of a project for a shop. Alas, a baby arrived, the shop's on hold, and she's loving her collection in her own home. Your particular aesthetic is perfection. xx's

Hi Loi! The blue in your shop is gorgeous, love how you anchored with both the kitchenette and "cash" counter. PS. thanks for stopping by, I showed Emily your comment, she is up for a road trip to meet the famous Loi! and family:)xob

Loi, Blue and white as only you can do...stunning; from your perfect business cards, to the blue grey on the pair of French bergeres chairs! Your kitchen makes me want to paint my cabinets in blue today! All the best, Rié

YESSSSSSSSS! Excuse my other enthusiastic use of exclamation marks, but every time I come here I just get so thrilled. HI MOCHA! Teeeehhee

LOI! Another fabulous post that makes me want to drop in to Tone on Tone when and if I will be in the DC area. How is it that such subtle and "simple" design can evoke such a passion for decorating? One feels so rich and embraced in coziness and elegance with gentle, Gustavian lines. Every piece here is a knock out!

Wishing you a fantastic weekend and I go back into the classroom on Monday. BON WEEKEND MON AMI! Anita

Loi,I do believe I could look at this all day long!! Three words come to mind, "Simple, Understated, Elegance!" These three words are my favorite adjectives when it comes to design and YOU my dear talented friend hit the mark every single time. I so enjoy your post and your work, thank you for sharing,xo Kathysue

I love the accents of blue with your neutrals, and your kitchen is so fresh! I stashed away my blue and white dishes, but was thinking about bringing it out again...maybe in the spring. :) I have really enjoyed adding pops of color in my neutral spaces, and changing them seasonally. You have some lovely antique blues...

Mocha looks so healthy and happy in her beautiful environment. How is Panda? We will be in town this fall for my brother's twins Mitzvahs. The schedule is very tight. I hope we will have time to visit your store! Will be staying close in Bethesda.

Loi,I always love to see your shop and the way you style it. The blue and white kitchen is wonderful. Blue and white is a classic and a favorite with so many of us. Thanks for the shopping trip, I hope to see your shop in person some day!xo,Karen

Love your beautiful bleus ...blues :)You have a style of class and tone that ages well together.I love blues and once designed around this colour the went to green accents. Now a tone on tone of as pale as I can get :)But you my dear are inspiring a bit of blue again in me.

Mocha is beautiful and a perfect contrast to the blue and white and colours in your shop.It is lovely to know where you sit when there and I would love to visit your shop one day and see you in situ.Have a glorious weekend

Your store is very enticing, Loi, and I really like the bold shots of that rich blue. One of these days — if it's the last thing I do — I'm going to travel up all the way from Florida, and drop by the shop for a visit.

Hi Loi, Thank you for your beautiful posts and taking the time out of you day to bring to us. We know time is precious. Are thoseDormer's [i think they are called that] for sale, They are located above the calendar and are they old. Thanks Loi, Teresa

Loi, it has been awhile! As always, churning out good things. I love that cabinet color, it is gorgeous. I found a new antique shop near us and came home with armfuls of blue and white platters the other day. The timing of this post is perfect!

Loi, Tone on Tone is a such a lovely shop. I so want to visit and get the experience first hand. Thanks for showing all these lovely combinations. The soft touches of blue and white soothe the soul. Makes me want to move right in to one of these vignettes. Thanks for an excellent post.

Blue and white has always been my favorite! The combination is classic yet so fresh. I seriously thought the first photo was from a magazine feature, until I saw your watermark on it! Lol. The blue on the cabinets is gorgeous. I am in Adirondacks right now for a vacation. Perhaps I will go antiquing looking for blue and white ware tomorrow! Have a lovely weekend, Loi.

Loi..I love how you incorporated the blue into the shop....everything looks so pretty! Every time I redecorate my home blue is in the design plan ...sometimes a lot...sometimes a little.... but its always apart of my home!

I strayed from blue for a short period of my decorating life, but it has found its way back into my home and my heart in a big way! Love all of your blue inspiration, and the greatest accessory any room can have is a sweet pup like Mocha!

As soon as I saw the title, I knew I was going to be in for a very big treat! What's funny, is that I did not realize until maybe the last year or so, just how much I LOVE blue! And I am loving it more and more every day! The blue accents look so perfect in your shop! The vignettes as always are positively sublime! Love the new business cards too! Mocha is too adorable! What a lucky dog! xoxo, Laurel

To put a kitchen in a shop!Now, thats real thinking!What a brilliant idea!I would have loved that in my little shop!Your kitchen is pretty cute........or chic is a better word!The BLUE and WHITE is a STUNNER!BRAVO to you LOI!

Are you looking for a shop assistant? I wouldn't mind working there at all! Love everything! A bIG YES to blue and white! I just bought a blue and white striped rug for the boys' playroom . I can't get enough of that combo!

Hello Mocha, you are looking so adorable! Blue and white is my favourite too. I also have a collection of blue and white China, the Blue Willow. The kitchen you set up in your store is very nice and elegant. Everything in your shop are so elegant and beautiful. All the best Loi!

Loi, I enjoy your blog and photos so much. The serenity of the store seems to reflect your approach to life and this comes across in the blog.I would love to know the blue paint color of the cabinetry in the first 3 photos if you don't mind sharing (hopefully I didn't miss that in the post).

That blue paint is gorgeous!! Jus the perfect shade and blends effortlessly with the grays and whites!! I have always crushed on that CV fabric we used it at a clients for drapery and that was years ago, it is still so current and lovely! I really need to take a road trip and see this shop in person!xo Karolyn

Loi,Sorry I'm so late visiting your post. We spent the weekend in Westport Connecticut with friends and I took a blogging break. Oh Loi your store's kitchen is visually a treat with it's displayed ironstone and reuse of the wine frig with evian. Love your color palate with the crisp blue and white as you excel at artful display.xo,VeraI'm hoping to put up a new post tonight.

I'm such a fan. Your store looks amazing and what a kitchen…such an inviting place. Adore the plate shelf with the white ironstone. I have some Blue Willow plates that I love and use in our library. Happy Monday!!

Greetings! Blue color on the cabinets is beautiful, love it. I too share your love of blue & white and never miss an opportunity to acquire one. Hope someday will be able to visit your shop and present cash or credit card at the beautiful blue counter. :)

Loi - we love the fact that you stock your mini fridge at the store with Evian bottles which have a blue cap almost the same color as the cabinets! Blue and white is always a best selling color palette for our designs as it truly goes with everything. Your porcelains are beautiful! We hope you enjoy the last week of August...xxooC + C

you have such an amazing eye, loi. I have to admit...at first I didn't see it. But seeing your blue cabinets and counter with all your gray-washed and light things...it's really just the thing. so much fun, as always, to see these beautiful objects thru your eyes. donna

Loi, I love the blue cabinets in the kitchen and the front desk! It looks so beautiful with all of the other white and grey in the shop. And your blue and white transferware...I am in LOVE. Such a classic look and a wonderful addition to any collection.

Oh my, in love with your shop and everything in it Loi!!!!! I truly love blue, it's my favorite color and yet I have to incorporate them a lot more in our home!!! You've made blue 'shine' in your shop without clashing with all your gorgeous pieces in the store! I love seeing where you work dear Loi, hope you, Tom and Mocha have a great Labor day weekend!

Ah...everything you share is so elegant and exquisite, perfect and sigh-inducing, Loi!

My friend, thank you for coming to visit my newest post. I returned to the classroom this week and I am exhausted! I had not posted in a while, but it felt good to see your beautiful smile on my comments page. AND guess what? We are finally having our exposed beams installed this weekend! YAHOOOO~ Now to get good photos of the rooms to share!

Loved the tour of your shop Loi. Next best thing to visiting in person. The kitchenette was a great idea and beautifully done! What great natural light you have in your shop, perfect backdrop for all those lovely pieces including little Mocha :) Have a great holiday weekend!Sarah

Ah yes, blue and white, know it well, love it to pieces, surrounded by it everywhere, both here on the island, and all through Greece, for it is this ancient's land 'red, white, and blue', since the colour combo also colours our flag. BUT, your blues and whites are intriguing, cool and crisp, yet endearing, and styled as they are with such flair and charm, they have YOUR signature on them, unmistakably Tone on Tone! I don't think I'd get too much work done if I were an assistant in your shop, as I'd be too busy admiring the merchandise and wanting to keep it all for myself!

Hello Loi,A bit late looking in!!Blue and white - my all time fave!Your shop looks marvellous. I wonder if I'll ever get to your neck of the woods to see it in person?!Hope you have a lovely week,Liz x

One day I am going to sneak in there while you are sitting at that desk and scare you like Ellen does to her guest:) Wait for it.....Love everything in your shop of course.....your taste is impeccable !